Pilates changed Lacy Looney's life — here is how!
Image Credit: Roberto Matteo Photography Walking into my first, life-changing Pilates class, I vaguely remember being told the workout was dangerous and I could get hurt easily, but I felt up for the challenge. Little did I know that just two years from that first class, I’d be teaching Pilates mat classes and private clients at that exact studio. Pilates became a passion — and a whole new way of life. Here’s how.
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Read more: Pilates vs. Barre vs. Yoga: Which One Is For You?
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Pilates Gave Me Motivation
I started waking up earlier than I had in years to take heated classes at Hot Pilates because I became addicted to how strong I felt following each class. First, I noticed significant changes to my mental wellbeing, including increased mood, concentration and energy levels within weeks of attending the intense, hip hop-influenced mat classes.
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Physical Education
Soon, I wanted to know the “why” behind Pilates and how these movements created such incredible results for my body. It became obvious to me and everyone around me — Pilates started changing my body so much that strangers even began to approach me and ask if I was a fitness instructor. I started to seriously think about pursuing my lifelong passion of fitness.
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Read more: Pilates Mat vs. Reformer: What Are the Differences and Which Is Better?
Health and fitness have always played a major role in my life; I ran long distance since I was 10 years old, but when my athletic career ended after an ACL injury I felt lost and fell out of a routine during college. After moving to Los Angeles, I landed what most would consider a “dream” job at an entertainment magazine, but the lifestyle made me the unhappiest, unhealthiest and burnt out I had ever been.
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After searching numerous training programs in the Los Angeles area, I decided to enroll in the Equinox Pilates Teacher Training Institute. This comprehensive program allowed me to study under different types of teachers from various backgrounds — many were trained under Joseph Pilates' protégé Romana Kryzanowska – which was important for me being a Classical Pilates Instructor.
Read more: Running + Pilates: A Match Made in Fitness Heaven
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Pilates is Functional Training - helps people perform daily tasks with ease and without pain.
Image Credit: Roberto Matteo Photography
New Career
After completing my teacher training program, I landed an instructor position at my favorite studio in town – Hot Pilates. Since I started teaching Pilates, there hasn’t been a day that I’ve dreaded, or taught a class or session that felt like “work.” I now understand what it means to do what you love and never work a day in your life.
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Pilates changed my life by giving me the confidence to pursue my fitness passion and has allowed me the freedom to live a healthy lifestyle that truly makes me the happiest.
Read more: 10 Surprising Benefits of Pilates
How Pilates Changed My Body
Pilates makes me happy, sure, but what everyone really wants to know: how does Pilates change your body?
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Pilates is a system of exercises that can be used to program full-body workout routines — routines which require significant core engagement. As well as mat exercises, Pilates is also performed against spring tension on apparatuses such as the Reformer, the Cadillac, the Wunda Chair and High Chair. Pilates does not require flexibility but will increase flexibility levels as our bodies age, which is crucial to maintaining mobility in the long run.
Read more: Got Knee, Back or Neck Pain? Here’s How Pilates Can Help
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Classical Pilates Open Leg Rocker
Every exercise requires a deep connection to the core "powerhouse" muscles including the deep stabilizing muscles such as the pelvic floor, psoas, multifidus, transversus abdominis, rectus abdominis, and gluteus maximus. Proper Pilates programs are total body workouts that teach how to effectively engage the entire body throughout movement.
Read more: 19 Ab-Sculpting Pilates Moves You Can Do At Home
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Personally, I noticed changes to my body within weeks of classes at Hot Pilates. Within a few months, I had a completely different body than ever before — and for the first time in years, I felt STRONG! I took what I learned from Pilates and translated it into my everyday life.
My posture and core strength improved dramatically — I stand taller, carry myself gracefully while keeping my shoulders drawn back and constantly engaging my core, which creates that waist trainer effect without squeezing the life out of your internal organs and skeleton. I found my abs and can genuinely say that I have a six-pack now! My waistline has cinched and I have developed a strong, toned figure. Each and every movement (if performed correctly!) is connected to the core, so it’s a fact that your core will become stronger and more defined. Read more: Top 10 Pilates Exercises
Pilates made me both toned and lean.
Image Credit: Roberto Matteo Photography My body composition and shape changed — my inner thighs toned up, my legs’ muscular build has become lean and evenly defined, and I’ve even noticed that my backside has lifted without the illusion of an anterior tilt (aka arching my back). Pilates not only changed my body but changed my life. Now, I get to spend every day working to inspire others to strengthen their bodies and ultimately change their lives as well. Come get hot with me at Hot Pilates — it might just change your life!
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Pilates changed Lacy Looney's life — here is how!
Image Credit: Roberto Matteo Photography
Image Credit: Roberto Matteo Photography
Pilates is Functional Training - helps people perform daily tasks with ease and without pain.
Image Credit: Roberto Matteo Photography
Classical Pilates Open Leg Rocker
Pilates made me both toned and lean.
Image Credit: Roberto Matteo Photography
